Put an End to Chronic Headaches and Jaw Pain With TMD Treatment
Put an End to Chronic Headaches and Jaw Pain With TMD Treatment
Living with persistent headaches and jaw pain can affect your sleep, mood, concentration, and overall wellness. Caring Smile Dental is excited to offer TMJ disorder (TMD) treatment in Lisle, Illinois, to restore your quality of life. We use non-invasive yet effective solutions to help you lead a healthy, pain-free lifestyle.
What is TMJ disorder?
Everyone has temporomandibular joints (TMJs) located on both sides of the face. You can feel these joints by placing your fingers just in front of your ears. When you move your jaws up and down, you can feel the TMJs in action. These hinge-like joints allow your jaws to move in several directions when eating, yawning, speaking, etc.
Unfortunately, trauma, muscle tension, or misalignment can cause the TMJs to malfunction, causing several unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Tension headaches
- Earaches or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Clicking or popping jaw sounds
- Trouble or pain when opening and closing the mouth
- Pain, tenderness, or soreness in the jaw area
- Pain that radiates to the face and neck
TMJ pain can take a toll on your everyday life. Depending on severity, simple activities like speaking or chewing can become painful. No one deserves to live with pain. If you suspect TMJ pain, seek treatment at our Lisle dental office.
What causes TMJ pain?
Several factors can cause TMJ-related pain. The most common cause is subconscious grinding and clenching of the teeth (bruxism), which commonly occurs during sleep. Bruxism exerts undue pressure on your jaw joints and muscles, causing TMJ pain.
Other causes of TMD include:
- Stress or anxiety
- Joint inflammation due to arthritis or other health conditions
- Misaligned teeth or bite
- Trauma to the mouth or jaw area
Whatever the cause of your TMJ discomfort, our goal is to help you feel better. Countless patients have found relief with our care, and you can too.
How is TMJ pain diagnosed?
TMJ pain can easily be confused with sinusitis, ear infections, or migraines. Misdiagnosis or undiagnosis can result in a never-ending cycle of treatments. When you arrive, we will gather your dental and medical history. Please inform us of any current health issues you may have. We’ll discuss your symptoms and may recommend X-rays or 3D scans to evaluate your jaw joints and surrounding muscles. Precise diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.
How do we treat TMJ disorder?
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for TMJ disorder. After diagnosis, we will tailor your treatment to your individual needs.
Treatment options for TMJ pain include:
- Oral appliance therapy: We can use customized oral appliances to relieve strain on your jaw joints and muscles caused by bruxism. Nightguards also protect teeth from clenching or grinding and reposition the jaw for optimal alignment.
- Myofunctional therapy: Retraining the tongue, lips, and jaw muscles can reduce overuse of neck and jaw muscles, easing tension and improving jaw function.
- Orthodontics: Misaligned teeth can cause your jaw muscles to overwork as they compensate for an imbalanced bite. Straightening your teeth and bite improves jaw alignment, reducing uneven pressure on the jaw joints and muscles.
- Botox injections: Botox injections can relax overactive jaw muscles to relieve jaw pain and headaches.
Our office uses a conservative approach to TMJ pain treatment. Although rare, we may recommend surgical interventions when your condition doesn’t respond to conservative treatments.
Do you need TMJ pain treatment in Lisle, Illinois?
Struggling with jaw pain, stiffness, or tenderness? You don’t have to live in pain! Discover your pain-free lifestyle with TMJ pain treatment at Caring Smile Dental. Call (630) 241-3904 and schedule your appointment.
